HomeBody Queen

HomeBody Queen in all her glory, at APE Gallery, Main. St., Northampton, MA
for the month of November. 

HomeBody Queen (aka Terry Rooney) at opneing reception, APE Gallery, Northampton,

Pathways....to Liberty

Monoprint & Drawing

I'm honored to be selected by curator, Doris Weiner Madsen to exhibit my monoprints in the Pathways exhibit at Elusie Gallery in Easthampton, MA during the BookFest opening on April 8th, 5-8 PM at the Old Town Hall. The gallery will be presenting my Liberty and the Immigrants monoprint, a detail of this piece is presented here. Also my first monoprint House Book which I've collaborated with artist/carpenter Tim Holcomb who is constructing a wooden house construction featuring the Statue of Liberty and the search for a home in our country is these perilous times. 

 Here are some of my thoughts on this subject:

House Book, folded

Is “Liberty” and all that the statue in New York Harbor stands for being diminished? My artwork explores this question in light of ways our government has been limiting our “liberty” at home in the name of national security.

My ancestors were welcomed by “The Statue of Liberty” and she was born in its very shadow. Perhaps that is why this figure became a central theme in this artists’ work for more than 30 years. Since Lady Liberty witnessed the devastation of 9/11, Rooney and what the statue stands for have been in harm’s way. The work in this exhibit asks political and philosophical questions to provoke gallery visitors to reevaluate our government’s response to terrorism.

Woman's Body & The House

The House/Home is an extension of the woman's body. Woman are usually the caregivers of the home, we cook, clean, decorate and raise our children there. Usually spending many more hours in the house then our partners/husbands do. So as I grow older, I've thrown caution to the wind and what was a suggestion of the woman's figure before (pregnant bellies, breasts and curves) have become more obvious and playful. Sometimes bosoms appear in the front of my 3D house contructions, other times they are hidden else where on these wooden house constructions. I encourage viewers to move around the houses, becoming active participants in looking at these Luscious Houses. This is like the game of "Hide & Seek."

Altered Books - Houses Popping Up

Working on my artist book for the upcoming exhibit at MAP in  Eastworks, Easthampton. I'm having fun combining a box book with a small house construction. They speak to each other, the title is "Trashy Novel" Altered Books, curated by John Landino opened this weekend, April 9 with a performance and warm reception. 

Trashy Novel, Mixed Media on wood construction

Costa Rica with My Sister

Toucan on our balcony Hotel Parador, Manuel Antonio

It been a long time since I visited Costa Rica, over 25 years. It's beauty still enchants me and I rediscovered it's gifts with my sister who lived there for a time...

Annie & Amos at Manuel Antonio Nat'l Park

On our balcony Manuel Antonio

Some of the highlights were discovering Arenal Volcano with it's cascading hot springs with waterfalls and tropical surroundings. Also we rediscovered the beauty of Manuel Antonio and the beach in the National Park with it's jungle down to the water.The founders of Costa Rica in their infinite wisdom, made a rule that you could not develop within 150 meters of the beach, so the jungle comes right down to the water, as well as the wildlife. One of our favorite places to visit was the "Doctor's Beach" in Manuel Antonio National Park, where white headed capucin monkeys visited at our blanket and on our balcony. There was a blue rope over the road to our AirBnb for the breakfast and dinner run. The howler monkeys also scampered across our roof to the fruit trees in the back yard. How's that for nature at your doorstep?

My sister and our dear friend Amos Bien, started the oldest and purest Rain Forest Preserve Rara Avis over 30 years ago in northern Costa Rica which has a spectacular waterfall. This is a tour for the adventurous spirit with over 300 different varieties of birds in this virgin rain forest.



http://www.rara-avis.com/

Annie at Manuel Antonio

Amos & Me

Footprints on the beach, Doctor's Beach Manuel Antonio

Artscope Coverage of Pioneer Women

ANNE BURTON, Collograph Monotype

Artscope Magazine gave us top billing in their e-blast for PIONEER WOMEN  art exhibit in Easthampton, MA. They have been a wonderful resource of outstanding exhibits in New England.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=1f1509b7-da4a-4dca-bada-d9398e56d1f1&c=b6b73350-07b6-11e5-b68e-d4ae527b6fcc&ch=b6c3b670-07b6-11e5-b691-d4ae527b6fcc

Pioneer Women at Eastworks, Easthampton MA

Sandy Litchfield, Turn Around Town, Oil on Canvas

I'm producing a new edition of Pioneer Women which has traveled from Tabla Rasa Gallery, Brooklyn http://www.tablarasagallery.com/html/pioneer_women.htmll to Western Massachusetts. These artists  blaze new frontiers in art and here is a taste of some of the beautiful and evocative work of these talented local artists. 

Rosalyn Driscoll drives home the point that art is more than just a visual experience by using tactile sculptures in her work. Susan Montgomery delves into the dark history of 17^th century Mary Bliss Parson, the accused witch of Northampton and Springfield, with provocative drawings. Sandy Litchfield combines digital imagery and paint to create cityscapes that evoke a latter-day cubism. Several artists—especially, Rachel Folsom, Elizabeth Pols and Terry Rooney—push the boundaries of painting on shaped canvases and wood contraptions. Pols re purposes antique writing desks into contemporary assemblages. Lourdes Morales evokes spiritual spaces with intersecting classical figures. Karen Dolmanisth will transform the installation space using natural materials and quote from Persian poet Rumi, evoking different kinds of love: “The lover’s cause is separate from all causes.”

This travelling exhibition premiered in Brooklyn, New York to rave reviews:

“Her (Karen Dolmanisth) work, along with that of several other innovative artists, is the thrilling new exhibit at the pioneering Tabla Rasa Gallery…” and

“A Riveting Exhibit of Astonishing Works.”—Brooklyn Daily Eagle

PIONEER WOMEN

MAP Gallery at Eastworks, 116 Pleasant St, Easthampton, MA

June 6 – June 28

Artists’ Reception: Sat., June 13 @ 5 – 8 PM

Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat 1 – 4 PM

Lourdes Morales

           PIONEER WOMEN

MAP Gallery at Eastworks

116 Pleasant St.

Easthampton, MA

Gallery Talk- June 18, 7 PM

June 6 - June 28

Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat. 1 - 4 PM

                                                     

                                                   

Lisa Griffith, Gown on Gown, paper & mixed media